Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerNets rookie Terrence Williams is a compelling player because he cannot be pigeonholed.WASHINGTON, D.C. – The best part about him is that even now, 72 games into his career, he still defies description. This is a good thing for Terrence Williams, because it not only emphasizes his versatility, it puts the element of surprise on his side.

Case in point: The Hornets' scouting report Saturday night noted that the Nets’ rookie drives right 80 percent of the time. That’s what James Posey thought in the second quarter, anyway, when he shaded Williams toward the middle on an isolation along the left wing.

As defenders go, Posey is a pro, but Williams cranked him: He jab-stepped right to put the Hornet back on his heels, then drove left – launching himself toward the cup two dribbles later and throwing down a hellacious slam that had the bench on its feet.

A postgame survey revealed that the players jumped to applaud the crescendo; the coaches were celebrating that – for once – Williams drove left.

“I made everybody happy,” Williams said before tonight’s 109-99 defeat against Washington. “I guess I ought to go left more often.”

He can rebound and initiate the break and finish with a flourish – steps A, B and C in your 21st century NBA offense. Very few players can do that.

You can use him on the ball and off the ball.

He can throw the lob, and he can catch the lob.

You can tell him something, and he’ll learn it in five minutes because he trusts coaches – especially Nets assistant Doug Overton – and he’s not a yes-sir type of rookie who then tries to do it his own way.

“A lot of little stuff now that looks like me reacting to the defense,” Williams said. “But it’s really something I’ve worked on a lot with Doug.”

And, of course, you can label him what you want. Some feel a need to call him a point guard or a point forward. He’s probably just a 2-3 who you can run your offense through – like an Andre Iguodala, or perhaps even a Lamar Odom.

He basically has the best array of skills of anyone on the team, boasting every tool except a post-up game.

“Actually, I can’t say that it’s not my game – I haven’t tried it yet,” Williams said. “It only happens by accident.”

He had 14 points and 14 assists against New Orleans, and rest assured the Hornets will remember his name. The latest review was a rave, and they come in almost daily now:

“He has all the ability, he can see the floor, he gets up and down,” forward David West said. “He’s like a combo guard with the strength of a three, and the quickness to guard ones. That’s a great combination. He’s a heck of a player.”

Kiki Vandeweghe has marveled at the rookie’s learning curve lately: “You never can predict when the light goes on, but he sees the way he can be successful,” the coach said.

Example: Whereas Vandeweghe would only run one or two sets for his prize pupil when he began to play the point-forward spot, anything goes now. Williams not only plays well, he is picking up something new every night.

And this month is his coming-out party: After being the invisible rookie in February – with averages of 3.7 points (.385 shooting), 2.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 15 games – Williams has essentially turned into perhaps the Nets’ best player since.

In his last 17 games, he has averaged 14.1 points (.446 shooting), 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.

He had another good – albeit strange – game against the Wizards at Verizon Center in the holiday encounter. He picked up his second personal at the 9:07 mark of the second quarter, and Vandeweghe benched him for the rest of the half. He played only six minutes before halftime.

“I thought I should have stayed in, personally,” Williams said. “I think I’m smart enough to not get my third, and even if I get my third, I’m not going to foul out.”

Then he played his usual minutes in the second half and nearly stole a game in which the Nets trailed by 18. He finished with 16 points, three boards and four assists in only 25 minutes.

“I’m just doing what I’m taught,” Williams said. “The game is slowing down for me again, because it’s the things I’m working on. As soon as I’m on the court, I notice it. And it’s confidence. It’s going up, I can’t deny it.” NOTES

Andray Blatche (20 points, nine boards, 13 assists) was the catalyst from the opening minute, picking the Nets apart for eight assists in the first quarter alone after drawing double teams. The troubled Wiz forward twice had his 10th board taken away in the final minute – first by an iffy loose ball foul, then by teammate Cartier Martin, who wrestled an airball out of his hands.

Vandeweghe took some blame for the second-night loss, noting: “My substitutions weren’t great tonight.”

Martin wrecked the Nets for 16 points and eight rebounds in January, when he was on a 10-day contract with Golden State. On Sunday, he rolled them for 16 points in 21 minutes – and for the second time this year, Vandeweghe identified him as “a guy fighting for his life.” Dave D'Alessandro may be reached at ddalessandro@starledger.com